Extension
It Starts With Us
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Health and Wellness
Elizabeth Maxedon, Bryce Roberts, Mollie Tichenor
Chemical Management
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Building Healthy Coalitions
Health & Wellbeing
With continued increasing amounts of obesity, diabetes, farm safety accidents, increased cost of food and lack of physical activity in Spencer County, agents will make residents aware of the ways to recognize the issues. Extension Council helped to develop this plan.
Decrease the number of local farm related accidents. Reduce chronic illness due to poor nutrition and activity. Increase awareness of proper child care practices. Increase the amount of home food preparation.
Adults will increase physical activity, will implement healthy food choices, and learn how to cook nutritious meals. Youth and adults will accomplish safe food practices.
Private pesticide applicators will learn how to properly mix and apply restricted use pesticides. Residents will gain knowledge of proper food safety, nutrition, physical activity, interpreting a food label, and farm safety.
Outcome: Participants will become certified pesticide applicators.
Indicator: Number of certified applicators in Spencer County.
Method: Observation and testing.
Timeline: Three months after program.
Outcome: Youth and adults will practice healthy cooking, food safety, and increased physical activity.
Indicator: Increase positive diet and activity will decrease chronic disease.
Method: Pre and post surveys.
Timeline: Immediate Post Surveys.
Outcome: Youth will develop an understanding of the consequences that go along with their actions.
Indicator: Increase awareness of being self-consciousness of your actions.
Method: Pre and post surveys.
Timeline: September 2024 to May 2025
Audience: Farm Families
Project or Activity: Pesticide applicator training. (BR)
Content or Curriculum: Pesticide applicator materials.
Inputs: Extension Council, Conservation District, Farm Bureau, Local Producers, University of Kentucky Specialist.
Date: November 2024, February 2025.
Project or Activity: Farmer’s Market (EM, BR, MT)
Content or Curriculum: Farmer’s Market materials, Plate it up materials, Food Sampling, Master Gardner Materials
Inputs: Extension Council, Family Resource Youth Services Center, Multipurpose Community Action, Spencer County School System, Conservation District, Farm Bureau, Spencer Co. Health Department, North Central Health District, Baptist Medical, Spencer County/Taylorsville Government, Local Producers, Farmer’s Market Committee, Master Gardner Volunteer.
Date: July 2024 – June 2025.
Project or Activity: ATV and tractor safety training. (MT)
Content or Curriculum: ATV and tractor safety videos and materials.
Inputs: Extension Council, Family Resource Youth Services Center, Spencer County School System, Local Producers, Salt River Antique Tractor Association, Community Volunteers.
Date: August 2024, March 2025 - July 2025.
Project or Activity: Farmer’s Dinner Theatre (EM, BR, MT)
Content or Curriculum: Farmer’s Dinner Theatre Curriculum and Supporting Materials
Inputs: County Extension Council, Local Producers, Louisville Area Cattleman’s, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Spencer County Schools.
Date: January 2025 - February 2025.
Audience: Senior Citizens, Adults, Youth, and Minorities.
Project or Activity: Working with Spencer County residents on nutrition, physical activity, and disaster preparedness. (EM, BR, MT)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H/FCS Curriculum, Lunch and Learn, LEAP, Farm to Table, Bingocize, Laugh and Learn
Inputs: Extension Council, Family Resource Youth Services Center, Multipurpose Community Action, Spencer County Public Library, Spencer County School System, Spencer Co. Health Department, North Central Health District, Baptist Medical, Local Producers, Farmer’s Market Committee.
Date: July 2024 - June 2025.
Project or Activity: Health Fair Readifest, Community Baby Shower. (EM, BR, MT)
Content or Curriculum: Health screenings, educational materials and handouts, nutritional education and handout, physical activity awareness.
Inputs: Extension Council, Family Resource Youth Services Center, Multipurpose Community Action, Spencer County School System, Spencer Co. Health Department, North Central Health District, Baptist Medical, Kentucky Cancer Program, Passport Health, Seven Counties, Spencer County Sherriff’s Office, Taylorsville Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Spencer County EMS, Spencer County/Taylorsville Fire Department, KIPDA.
Date: July 2024 – June 2025.
Project or Activity: Elementary Agriculture Day (EM, BR, MT)
Content or Curriculum: Farm and Home Safety.
Inputs: Extension Council, Family Resource Youth Services Center, Multipurpose Community Action, Spencer County School System, Conservation District, Farm Bureau, Spencer County/Taylorsville Government, Local Producers, Salt River Antique Tractor Association, Spencer County Sherriff’s Office, Taylorsville Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Spencer County EMS, Spencer County/Taylorsville Fire Department, Farmer’s Market Committee.
Date: September 2024 - October 2024.
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: High School Cooking Lab, 4-H Cooking Club, Superstar Chef, Summer Enrichment, Windowsill Gardens, LEAP, Cupcake Wars (EM, BR, MT).
Inputs: Extension Council, Family Resource Youth Services Center, Multipurpose Community Action, Spencer County School System, Local Producers, Spencer County Fair Board
Date: July 2024 – June 2025.
Author: Elizabeth Maxedon
Major Program: Child Development General
Describe the Issue or Situation. In the current societal context, occurrences of adolescent pregnancy and individuals hailing from low-income households have grown increasingly prevalent. This pattern is notably evident within the residents of Spencer County. During the current year, the agents of Spencer County Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H/Youth Development, in collaboration with the Family Resource & Youth Service Centers and other community partners, coordinated t
